Peter Maivia

Infobox Wrestler
name = Peter Maivia
names = "High Chief" Peter Maivia


image_size = 220px
img_capt =
real_height =
real_weight =
height = height|ft=5|in=9cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/petermaivia/bio/|title=Hall of Fame: High Chief Peter Maivia|publisher=WWE.com|month=February | year=2008|accessdate=2008-02-27]
weight =
birth_date = April 6 1927
birth_place = American Samoa
death_date = Death date and age|1982|6|13|1927|4|6
death_place = Hawaii
resides =
billed = The Isle of Samoa
trainer = Steve Rickard
debut = 1962
retired =
website =

Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia (April 6 1937 – June 13 1982) was a Samoan professional wrestler better known as "High Chief" Peter Maivia. He was head of the famous Samoan wrestling family. He was the grandfather of actor and former WWE superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and was also the promoter for the National Wrestling Alliance's promotions in Hawaii.

Career

He started training in the 1960s in New Zealand under Steve Rickard. . He also trained for some time in London. He wrestled throughout the South Pacific and Hawaii before moving to the continental United States. On the West Coast, he won various NWA Tag Team Championships with Pat Patterson, Billy White Wolfe, and Ray Stevens. He briefly wrestled in Texas.

Maivia debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1977. He wrestled Superstar Billy Graham for his WWF title. The next year, Maivia teamed with new champ Bob Backlund. In 1978, Maivia turned heel by betraying Backlund in match against Victor Rivera and Spiros Arion after Backlund won the WWF title from Graham, setting up a series of title matches around the northeast. Maivia, however, never won the championship. Subsequently, Maivia also turned on another one of his team mates, Chief Jay Strongbow.Floyd Conner. "Wrestling's Most Wanted" (p.104)] During this time, Maivia was managed by "Classy" Freddie Blassie, who, in storyline, paid him to turn on his former teammates.

After leaving the WWF, Maivia wrestled once again in California and Hawaii, feuding with Victor Rivera. He also spent time training wrestlers, including Afa Anoa'i, and Rocky Johnson.

In 1979, Maivia bought the National Wrestling Alliance's Hawaiian promotion, NWA Polynesian Wrestling from Ed Francis, father of NFL star Russ Francis.

On February 25 2008, Maivia was announced as an inductee for the 2008 class of the WWE Hall of Fame along with his son-in-law Rocky Johnson. They were inducted into the Hall of Fame on March 29 2008 by his grandson and former professional wrestler, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Personal life

Maivia was of the Alii lineage of Malietoa. [Peter Leiataua Ahching. "Polynesian Interconnections" (p.19)] Maivia's tribal tattoos, which covered his abdomen and legs, were a symbol of his High Chief status. [Terry Funk. "More Than Just Hardcore" (p.197)] According to Superstar Billy Graham, they were completed in three days. Maivia's grandson Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson revealed that they were done with traditional Samoan instrumentation: a small hammer, a needle, and ink.

Maivia disapproved of his daughter's relationship with Rocky Johnson, not because of anything personal against Johnson, but because of his chosen profession. [The Rock. "The Rock Says..." (p.6-7)] The duo married despite Maivia's objections.

In 1981, Maivia was diagnosed with cancer. He died on June 13, 1982 at the age of 55.

Relatives in wrestling

He was the head of the Maivia/Johnson wrestling family, which includes his son Peter Maivia, Jr., his son-in-law "Soulman" Rocky Johnson and his grandson Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. He was a blood brother to the Anoa'i family, which includes The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika), Eddie Fatu (Umaga), and Solofa Fatu (Rikishi).

Other media

Maivia is featured in the 1967 James Bond film "You Only Live Twice".

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**"Stump Puller" (Inverted Boston crab)

*Managers
**Freddie Blassie

*Wrestlers trained
**Afa Anoa'i
**Rocky Johnson
**Superstar Billy Graham
**Peter Maivia, Jr.

Championships and accomplishments

*NWA All-Star Pro Wrestling
**NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
**NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*NWA Big Time Wrestling
**NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*NWA Hollywood Wrestling
**NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*NWA Mid-Pacific Promotions
**NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Jim Hady (1), Billy White Wolf (1), and Sam Steamboat (2)

*NWA New Zealand
**NWA New Zealand British Empire Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

*NWA San Francisco
**NWA United States Heavyweight Championship "(San Francisco version)" (2 times)
**NWA World Tag Team Championship "(San Francisco version)" (1 time) - with Ray Stevens

*World Wrestling Entertainment
**WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2008)

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI ranked him # 268 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

Notes

References

*cite book|author=The Rock and Joe Layden|title=The Rock Says...|publisher=HarperEntertainment|year=2000|isbn=978-0060392987
*cite book|author=Ric Flair and Keith Elliot Greenberg|title=Ric Flair: To Be the Man|publisher=Pocket Books|year=2004|isbn=978-0743456913
*cite book|author=Classy Freddie Blassie and Keith Elliot Greenberg|title=The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|year=2003|isbn=978-0743463164

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/petermaivia/ WWE Hall of Fame profile]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/p/peter-maivia.html Profile at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.bodyslamming.com/deceased/maivia.html Profile at BodySlamming.com]